Chapter 74

Shen Cui and Mu Er Pang returned to the academy first. Lao Buyu had cooked some noodles for himself at noon. Seeing that it was still early, he and Mu Er Pang took the opportunity to have a short class.

At dusk, Zhou Shi returned from the city.

This time, there was no difference in Zhou Shi’s expression from usual when she returned from her parents’ home.

At the dinner table, Mu Er Pang hesitated several times, apparently still unable to believe that his usually kind and gentle sister-in-law would actually go and hit someone. But if it really came to a fight, he worried that his sister-in-law might be at a disadvantage outside.

Although he was young, he could stand up for his sister-in-law if she was wronged.

Even though the books said that a gentleman does not resort to violence, he probably couldn’t beat his sister-in-law’s brother, but he could at least argue with him and get justice for his sister-in-law.

He was straightforward, and he was even more relaxed at home, not hiding his thoughts.

His changing expressions throughout the meal were noticed by everyone else.

Shen Cui gently nudged Zhou Shi with her elbow, and Zhou Shi picked up a tofu box for Mu Er Pang. “There’s nothing wrong, just eat your meal in peace. I’ll tell you the details later.”

Finally, the young steward could finish his meal in peace.

After dinner, Lao Buyu and Mu Er Pang stayed at the academy, while Shen Cui and Zhou Shi went home together.

Without waiting for Shen Cui to ask, Zhou Shi told her about what had happened.

When she went to her brother’s house again, her brother and sister-in-law had already returned with the child.

Zhou Shi knocked on the door, and her brother, Zhou Heng, came to open it after a while.

Seeing her, Zhou Heng’s face showed a hint of awkwardness, but he still said, “I thought you should have come back to the parental home today, so I’ve been waiting for you. Why did you come so late?”

Zhou Shi asked calmly, “I came over earlier, knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered.”

Her sister-in-law quickly came out and explained, “I went back to my parental home this morning, and this little guy in our house is so troublesome. It takes his father to carry him even for a short distance. Zhou Heng sent us back. Maybe we missed you.”

After that, she was invited into the house, and the young couple entertained her politely. Seeing that she was dressed more decently than before and looked healthier and more energetic, they couldn’t help but ask about how she was doing at her in-laws’ home and how her brother-in-law was doing, and whether he had written home.

Zhou Shi responded indifferently and didn’t stay long before leaving. As for the thick red envelope she had prepared for her nephew, it was still in her arms, not given out.

Since they only saw her as a grieving relative, and she didn’t ask for any money to support herself, the young couple could only secretly enjoy themselves.

Shen Cui knew that Zhou Shi’s character was unlikely to resort to physical violence against her brother, who was already established, but she also didn’t expect the matter to be so easily dismissed.

“I felt it was strange and boring,” Zhou Shi said with a sarcastic smile. “After talking to you, I was full of anger and wanted to have a good talk. If Zhou Heng dared to continue saying those things in front of me, I would really have beaten him up. But he has two faces, one in front of people and one behind their backs. I feel like he’s a stranger to me now. There’s no need to be angry with them. With this in mind, I came back earlier to think about making clothes.”

“Are you really not angry?” Shen Cui asked.

Zhou Shi thought for a moment and said, “There is some discomfort in my heart. Although it has been many years and our interactions have been few, after all, he is my own brother, whom I raised from childhood to his marriage.”

She paused and let out a long sigh. “Before, I compared Er Pang to my brother, which was unfair to Er Pang. You are more capable than me. I didn’t teach Zhou Heng well, and Er Pang is much better than him.”

She paused again, took a deep breath, and continued as usual, spreading out a blank piece of paper to write and draw. “Earlier, the teacher taught Er Pang to read ‘Mencius,’ and there is a saying in it, ‘upright without being arrogant, humble without being servile.’ I like it very much and remember it. I took care of him not for his future repayment to me, but because of the instructions of my parents before they passed away. I ask myself, what I gave him, what I taught him, was all I had and the best of me. I have no regrets. Since he has forgotten these things now, I don’t need to hold a grudge. Now that I am married away, he has started a family in the city. We are just two separate families. If he doesn’t miss me, then I don’t need to miss him either. We can each go our own way. There is no need to be upset with people who don’t care about me.”

Shen Cui was somewhat surprised by Zhou Shi’s words. At this moment, she even wondered if one day Mu Yunchuan would be like Zhou Heng, would Zhou Shi also be as free and easy as she was now…

Shen Cui glanced down and noticed that Zhou Shi’s hand holding the pen was slightly trembling, and she had been talking for so long that the ink from the pen had dripped onto the paper, but she was unaware.

Well, she had broadened her horizons and knowledge, but a person’s rationality and emotions could be separated. Zhou Shi was definitely not as calm as she claimed—only feeling ‘some discomfort.’

As an adult, she could only digest this kind of emotion herself. Shen Cui asked her to go back to her room and attend to her own affairs, letting her be alone.

Later in the evening, Mu Er Pang finished his studies and saw that there was still light in the main house, so he came over.

Shen Cui knew that he was also concerned about Zhou Shi, so she waited for him.

“Is Sister-in-law not with Mother tonight?”

“She has something on her mind, so I let her be alone for a while,” Shen Cui said, motioning for him to sit on the edge of the kang.

Knowing that the young steward was still worried, Shen Cui briefly told him about what had happened to Zhou Shi later.

When he heard that there was no fight and that his sister-in-law hadn’t been wronged again, Mu Er Pang finally relaxed. “Sister-in-law is right. She has nothing to be ashamed of. She didn’t do anything wrong just because of others’ influence.”

Mu Er Pang was also curious and asked Shen Cui, “Mother, what would you do if you encountered such a situation?”

Shen Cui raised his hands in surrender, “Why are we comparing me again? I should have known not to bring this up.”

Shen Cui took the opportunity to scratch his itch, and the mother and son laughed and joked for a while. Mu Er Pang whispered, “Actually… I feel like Mom’s method is more relieving.”

“Everyone has their own character. It’s good that your sister-in-law is no longer as stubborn as before. There’s no need for her to become a copy of me. If she did, although she would stand up, she would lose her original temperament, which wouldn’t be good.”

Mu Er Pang nodded thoughtfully, and they both went to rest without mentioning it again.

…

As for the Wei brothers, due to Wei Xi’s condition, Wei Shu did not let them travel overnight. Unfortunately, they encountered a heavy snowstorm on the way, delaying them for several days. It wasn’t until the second day of the new year that they returned to the capital.

Wei’s parents had received their letter saying they would return home together for the New Year, so they had someone waiting at the city gate since before the New Year.

When their convoy arrived, the servants and attendants immediately went forward to assist and inform them to return home.

When the carriage stopped at the Wei residence, Wei’s parents were already waiting at the door. The brothers looked weary from their journey.

Before they could bow and greet, they were each grabbed by Wei’s mother and pulled into the house to warm up.

The eldest son had been away studying for two years, and the youngest had been away for a year. Wei’s parents were overjoyed to see them, as their knees were empty.

Before they could exchange heartfelt words, Wei’s parents immediately had someone bring a familiar doctor over.

After Wei’s mother sat down, she did not let go of her grip on her sons, still holding one hand of each. Although their appearances were similar, she kept looking at them alternately, not wanting to miss a moment.

Wei Xi was not particularly close to his parents before, as he had not seen them much in the past ten years.

But perhaps his temperament had changed in the past year, or perhaps after a brief separation, he felt his parents’ genuine longing for him. He did not pull away from Wei’s mother’s hand. Instead, he comforted her gently, “Mother, don’t worry, everything is fine outside…”

As he spoke, he glanced at Wei Shu, his face slightly flushed with embarrassment. “My elder brother has been taking good care of me.”

“My child has grown up.” Wei’s mother noticed his change and was excited, but she didn’t know where to start. She just kept repeating, “Grown up, really grown up.”

Wei’s father’s eyes also reddened. He cleared his throat and said seriously, “It’s good that Xiaoxi is back. This trip outside for a year has fulfilled your previous desire to go out and see. From now on, stay at home and take good care of yourself.”

Wei Xi moved his lips, wanting to say that he still wanted to go back to Cuiwei, but several doctors were led in by the servants, so he didn’t mention it. So, the family matters were put aside for now, and the doctors took turns to examine the Wei brothers.

Needless to say, Wei Shu, who had been healthy since childhood, had no problem traveling a long distance and was not affected by sleeping. But Wei Xi, he was in a difficult situation. Despite being nurtured for so long, there was no improvement. In simpler terms, it was a congenital condition. Several doctors who were close friends of the Wei family had hinted to Wei’s parents in private that Wei Xi was still young and might not see any problems now, but as he grew older, the problems would gradually surface and could likely affect his lifespan.

It was also because of this that when Wei Xi proposed to go out and see the world, Wei’s parents agreed and sent him to Wei Shu’s side.

But this time, when the doctors examined Wei Xi, they were slightly stunned, and their expressions became serious.

As the saying goes, it’s not afraid of doctors smiling, but afraid of doctors frowning.

Seeing several doctors all silent, Wei’s parents’ hearts were in their throats.